Regulation of Bone Marrow-Derived Vascular Progenitor Cell Mobilization and Maintenance

Cell therapy is a promising option for treating ischemic diseases and heart failure. Bone marrow-derived vasculogenic cells, including progenitor cells and proangiogenic cells, have been shown to augment the functional recovery after ischemia. However, cardiovascular diseases affect the functional activity of the endogenous progenitor cell pools. The local microenvironment, also termed the stem cell niche, provides essential cues that maintain stem and progenitor cell functions and direct cell fate decisions in the bone marrow. A disturbed niche might lead to cell dysfunction (eg, by exhaustion). In addition, the niche controls mobilization of the cells into the circulation. This review will discuss the impact of cardiovascular disease on stem cell niches and summarize strategies targeting the niche for mobilization of vasculogenic cells. (Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2010; 30: 1088-1093.)